Photos: Book Cover
Traditions and cultural heritage are very important in society. It preserves the history of people and ensures that their way of life isn’t completely forgotten. However, some cultural practices and ideologies have had and continue to have a negative impact on society today.
Another Poor Cow by Martins Agbonlahor is a fictional story that details the negative impact some archaic cultural practices have on the people of Nigeria, especially the youths and children in rural Nigeria.
Onaiwu was born to Ivie and Ihama after they had lost several children before they could be birthed into the world. Onaiwu was said to be an Ogbanje (a child of the spirit world, who comes to earth and hurries to depart). Her parents were told that she wouldn’t live for more than ten years unless a ceremony to sever her connection to the spirit world was carried out. Onaiwu grew into a fine young girl and the ceremony was successfully carried out. At a very young age, Onaiwu was married off to Chief Uyi Osaheni, who was old enough to be her father. At first, she disagreed with her parents’ decision, but eventually had no choice but to yield. This isn’t the end of Onaiwu’s story as she experiences a lot of life-changing experiences that eventually leads her to Italy where she’s asked to go into forced prostitution. Grab a copy of this book to find out how Onaiwu journeys through this harsh world.
Onaiwu’s story is a tragic one indeed. As painful and sad as it is, it portrays what goes on in some parts of my country, Nigeria, today. I think the reason why the story got me so emotional is because of the fact that I have witnessed some of the things portrayed in the book first-hand. I’ve always believed that some unnecessary archaic and barbaric practices should be abolished in Nigeria. Some of these practices were mentioned in this book and it includes female circumcision, underage marriages, and the wrong notion that the female child is inferior. This book shows that people need to start taking a stand against such practices. It also portrays the corruption present in the Nigerian justice system. Macpherson became a victim of injustice after he tried to stand up for his beliefs.
Human trafficking and forced prostitution is another thing that was portrayed in this book. Onaiwu unknowingly fell victim to human trafficking due to her gullibility and the wickedness of society. I’ve come across many persons in Nigeria today, who are ready to do anything to travel out of the country illegally. While some are aware of the gory details about such journeys, others are left completely in the dark. I just wish they can read this book to have an insight into the world that awaits them.
There was absolutely nothing I disliked about this book. It was magnificently written. It contains several strong themes that compel a reader to take action in the society. The structuring was also perfect and the characterization was top-notch. The major and minor characters were well-developed. My favorite character in the book is Macpherson. I love how he stood up to challenge what he felt was morally wrong. The book also contained several twists and turns, surprises, and enough suspense to make it very thrilling.
I couldn’t find any errors, which shows that the book was professionally edited. The flow of the storyline was well-paced and the language used was simple. The book also had a real-life setting and the writing style of the author was superb. Therefore, I’m rating Another Poor Cow 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book to people who enjoy reading stories that details problems encountered in societies. The book also contains profanity and sexual language.
Reviewed on 10 December, 2020 by the New York-based Online Book Club.
